Haro, Guillermo

English 114B
Jennifer Rodrick
5/10/16

The Space Around Us

One word, Identity. What is it? Many argue that is our personality, but others will say
that identity is the behavior of a person in regards to their surroundings or space. But according
to Webster's dictionary, identity is who we are and what we are. People always wonder who they
are and where they fit into the world for. To answer this question, they go on a hunt. The hunt for
their identity. In regards to identity, identity is shaped with the help of the social community,
religious beliefs, and cultural involvement. With the help of these factors, our identity is shaped
and our views on different identities open up. Although our surroundings corrupt the view of
different identities, identity is shaped with the help of society such as , religion, community, and
family.
We are born into this world not knowing anything but the mumbles of da da and mama.
As we get older, we are taught many things by our family. Children develop a sense of who they
are from the environment in which they grow up. Usually family environment plays a large role
in shaping the identity of children as they grow into adolescence and adults. The way family
members relate to one another and bond with each other can shape and form a child's selfesteem, socialization, and cultural identity. We are shaped through the teachings of reasoning.
Although this is something everyone is taught, they are all taught differently. Someone being
taught that a certain race is bad while another being taught that everyone is equal. Our parents

are the ones that define what those things are. For example, my parents taught me that everyone
is the same and should be treated equally. In another home a kid may be taught that Mexican and
Black people are bad. This impacts how our identity is shaped. Kids may grow up hating another
person because their identity is different and wrong, Another example is how children who
grow up without a father or mother figure tend to become more independent at an early stage.
This may affect the
relationship you have with
others, such as siblings or best
friends that aren't
independent. The reason why
is because we begin to believe
that being independent is
what is right because that's
how we grew up. Another
example is if your parents
argue a lot it can cause ones identity to be confined and distant. On the other hand, some people
shape their identity similar to their parents such as a son following the footsteps of his father or
mother in pursuing the same career.
Finally, siblings are also an impact to your identity because they can either shape you
into becoming someone better or shape you into becoming someone bad. Siblings may poke fun
at a certain gender or sexuallity and to fit in, you do the same and follow their
footsteps..According to the article, Identity Profiles in Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Youth: The
Role of Family Influences, the author states, both found that adolescents and young adults

who experience parental rejection have lower self esteem. Furthermore, adolescents who
perceive support from parents have been found to have increased global self worth,(Bregman,
5). This indicates that those with families that are supported with their choice of sexuality
increases their esteem while on the other hand those who are not decreases it. This also translates
to the fact that Christian kids may look at gay people and view them as something wrong. This
has to do with who they grew up with and the morals they were taught. Overall this not only
shape who you are but also shapes your beliefs.
Religion is a major key to someone's identity. Family influences religion hugely. The
religion the family praises or believes in impacts how children view their own religion and other
religions. For example, your family may force you to go to church, but what the priest is saying,
does not impact you whatsoever. Thi begins to have a negative impact towards your view of
religion. Friends can also influence you because they might believe in something or else believe
in nothing at all which motivates you to follow their steps. Religion has an impact all over the
world which leads it to being all over the media. Media's portrayal of religions can impact
peoples beliefs and even change religion because of media portrayal. For example, if a show is
on such as Jimmy Fallon and he promotes Buddhism, then those who are a big fan of a Jimmy
Kimmel may shift their beliefs towards Buddhism. In the article , Religious Identity and
Family Ideologies, it states, Evangelical Protestants are expected to be more opposed to
premarital sensual activity, nonmarital cohabitation, abortion, divorce, and feminism, (Jane, 2).
This states that those who are from the Evangelical group are tend to have different views on
what another religion might believe. In other people's eyes, we might be seen as monsters for
accepting abortions, but in reality we are just normal human beings expressing who we are.
Our neighborhood and our community shape who we are as well. Growing up in a

neighborhood where gang related issues are high will have a different impact than those who
grow up in a nice peaceful neighborhood. For example, if a group of gang members were to
move into our neighborhood and they happened to be Hispanic, then we would start viewing all
Hispanics as gang members when in reality they are not. This ties up to young kids who
experience that because young kids tend to eliminate all the bad from their lives and due to that,
they would then begin eliminating all Hispanics because they are criminals. In the article,
Racial Identity and Academic Achievement in the Neighborhood Context: A Multilevel
Analysis, the author states, Youth in neighborhoods with low economic opportunity may make
race-related attributions; that is, they could reason that limited opportunities exist because of
discrimination against African Americans, or because of the abilities, skills, or work ethic of
African Americans (Byrd, 4). This explains how not only are we viewing those people with low
incomes differently, we are discriminating them and labeling them in regards to their race. We
are beginning to label the economic class in a sense of a race based platform. Not only are we
labeling discriminating the racial identity of a human we are discriminating who they are.
Many may argue that we have the choice into follow what we believe in and they're right.
We do have a choice in what we do. But if that's the case, why do we still let our surrounding
influence who we are. Humans are becoming something they aren't because they want to be
accepted within their society. Why do they do that? Well studies show that it is easier to join in
than stand out. That means that it is easier to change up to fit in that to fit in with who you really
are. On one hand, we come into this world not knowing anything of social structures so we grow
accustomed to them. On the other hand develop who we are by making decisions in those
situations. According to the article, Do we Choose Our Identity, the author states, The
degree to which we choose our identity, versus having it imposed on us via external influence, is

arguably a matter of consciousness and awareness. When we are unaware of the power of
external influence we are akin to pieces of clay, being unconsciously moulded to fit into the
accepted or preferred norms of someone elses reality. When we are aware we can take
responsibility for the creation of our identity (Pearce, 3) .We have say in what and who we are
but when we are unaware of the circumstances and we want to fit in, the society changes who we
are. This is something that is happening to many kids going to school that are trying to fit in with
the crowd. This states that even though we have choices the society overpowers who we are
which controls our identity.
Identity is shaped with the help of society such as , religion, community, and family.
Who we are is based upon what surrounds us such as our communities and or family. On the
image in the right, it shows a girl holding 2 flags. They are both American, but she doesn't know
which one to choose. Normally everyone would pick the one on the right, but in this case she
was taught differently so she has another option of the flag. Although we do have a say in what
we want to believe we tend to stick to what the norms within the society is. For example going to
school can be hard because of adjustment, but if you want to fit in you will change who you are.
Although we do have a say, the spaces around us over power us. Not only does space, motivate
who we are, but it motivates our views on different identities. These views may be negative
views because they are different. Overall our
identity is shaped around the space we
surround ourselves with which impacts both
our identity and the view on others.